Get the most out of your iMac with these nifty accessories
- jul
- 07
If you're planning on picking up a brand new iMac, you're going to want some accessories to go with it. There are hundreds of ways to add productivity and functionality to your computer if you know what to look for. Whether it's a robust backup drives, some great headphones, or even an external GPU, this collection has something that every Mac owner needs.
Wireless simplicity
Apple AirPods
Staff Favorite
No matter which Apple product you own, you should probably have a pair of AirPods. They're great. The pairing process is simple, and once paired with one device, they're automatically paired with all of your devices that are signed in to your iCloud account. The sound is pretty good, too, and the built-in microphones make placing calls or issuing Siri commands crystal clear.
$159 at Apple$139 at Amazon$140 at B&H
Portable and speedy
Samsung T5 SSD
This solid-state drive from Samsung is speedy, tiny, and portable. It also connects using USB-C, making it a perfect companion for your new Mac. It's a great, fast drive that's perfect for holding a photo library, or other important files.
From $110 at Best BuyFrom $123 at AmazonFrom $99 at Newegg
Back it all up
Western Digital My Book
Western Digital's external hard drives are a great way to back up your iMac. The company's included software will automatically back everything up, though it's perfectly compatible with Apple's Time Machine software. Sizes range from 3TB to 10TB, for the single drive models, while there are dual drive models that range from 4TB to 20TB.
From $115 at DellFrom $88 at AmazonFrom $90 at B&H
Official solution
Apple Magic Keyboard
Apple's official Bluetooth keyboard is a great basic option that provides a consistently solid typing experience and pairs easily with your Mac. It is small, lightweight, and pairs automatically with iMac.
$99 at Apple$90 at Amazon$103 at Newegg
The mechanical option
Das Keyboard 4 Professional
If you're more into mechanical keyboards, the Das Keyboard 4 should be exactly what you're looking for, with options available for Cherry MX Blue or Brown switches, and even an option for RGB backlighting, as well as media keys with a built-in volume knob.
$164 at Amazon$170 at Best Buy$169 at B&H
Every port you could want
OWC 14-port Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Your iMac will come with a lot of ports already, including a headphone jack, four USB-A ports, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports. But OWC's dock, while a little pricey, will give your iMac more I/O than most would know what to do with, including four USB-A ports, two Thunderbolt 3 port, a USB-C port, audio jack, optical audio jack, and SD card and microSD card slots.
$295 at Amazon$318 at Walmart$322 at Newegg
Wireless sound upgrade
Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones
These over-ear headphones provide a big sound alternative to AirPods while being just about as easy to use. Like the AirPods, connect easily to your Apple devices thanks to the built-in W1 chip, which allows the pairing to sync across devices logged into iCloud.
$350 at Apple$289 at Amazon$280 at B&H
Sleek and stylish
Bose Companion 20
These beautiful speakers offer a balanced sound in a stylish package. With no knobs on the front, the volume is controlled through a small pod attached to the right speaker, which also holds the ports for your headphones or other audio devices.
$270 at Dell$250 at Amazon$249 at B&H
The mouse to get
Apple Magic Mouse 2
Just connect the Magic Mouse 2 to your Mac by a USB-to-Lightning cable once, and it'll be paired. This rechargeable mouse has a multitouch surface that lets you customize exactly how it works, from what one-and two-finger swipes do to which side works as "left" and "right" click. Available in Silver or Space Gray to match your Mac.
$79 at Apple $74 at Amazon$77 at Walmart
More versatile
Apple Magic Trackpad 2
This has long been my personal desktop navigation device, offering more options for how I work than the mouse. Adding the Magic Trackpad to your Mac setup gives you a lot of options for gestures, while still offering pinpoint cursor navigation. It's available in Silver and Space Gray so you can match it to your Mac.
Enhance the experience
These accessories all offer excellent enhancements for your iMac experience, whether you need great storage options, a more customized typing experience, or the massive power provided by an external GPU. But of all of these accessories, I'd recommend getting the Apple AirPods first. AirPods might be Apple's single best product in the last three years, they pair like magic and even sound pretty good, something you might not expect if you've ever used the wired EarPods.
Of course, a computer is not much good without a keyboard, so if you haven't purchased one yet, we recommend the Apple Magic Keyboard as a simple option or the Das Keyboard if you prefer a mechanical keyboard. Any product on this list will improve the productivity of your iMac.